The primary focus of Dr. Hattrick-Simpers’s work is on the development and utilization of high-throughput strategies to expedite the discovery and optimization of new energy materials. His main research interests center on the identification of novel materials and the design of rapid screening measurement techniques for hydrogen storage applications, catalysts for syngas production, and coal slagging gasification reactors. In the area of hydrogen storage materials the central thrust is on the exploration of mixed cation borohydride - amide - metal hydride systems, which have recently been demonstrated to store a reasonable weight percent of hydrogen with favorable thermodynamics and kinetics. In the field of catalysis, his interest is in the rapid screening of novel sulfur and carbon resistant bimetallic catalysts for the production of syngas from heavy hydrocarbons. Another focus of his work is on the development of refractory ceramics that exhibit reduced slag wetability, or that introduce a surface passivation layer at the slag - refractory interface, to reduce the penetration of molten slag into the refractory liner of coal slagging gasification reactors. One central theme is the development of new rapid screening measurement techniques, which reliably measure their properties. To this end in-situ vibrational spectroscopy systems, in both the ultra-high-vacuum ( 10-8 Torr ) and ultra-high pressure ( 1,000 bar ) regimes, are used to monitor chemical changes during testing that can elucidate reaction pathways and give insight into the underlying physical mechanisms.

About Jason R. Hattrick-Simpers

The primary focus of Dr. Hattrick-Simpers’s work is on the development and utilization of high-throughput strategies to expedite the discovery and optimization of new energy materials. His main research interests center on the identification of novel materials and the design of rapid screening measurement techniques for hydrogen storage applications, catalysts for syngas production, and coal slagging gasification reactors. In the area of hydrogen storage materials the central thrust is on the exploration of mixed cation borohydride - amide - metal hydride systems, which have recently been demonstrated to store a reasonable weight percent of hydrogen with favorable thermodynamics and kinetics. In the field of catalysis, his interest is in the rapid screening of novel sulfur and carbon resistant bimetallic catalysts for the production of syngas from heavy hydrocarbons. Another focus of his work is on the development of refractory ceramics that exhibit reduced slag wetability, or that introduce a surface passivation layer at the slag - refractory interface, to reduce the penetration of molten slag into the refractory liner of coal slagging gasification reactors. One central theme is the development of new rapid screening measurement techniques, which reliably measure their properties. To this end in-situ vibrational spectroscopy systems, in both the ultra-high-vacuum ( 10-8 Torr ) and ultra-high pressure ( 1,000 bar ) regimes, are used to monitor chemical changes during testing that can elucidate reaction pathways and give insight into the underlying physical mechanisms.